Start by deciding what you want to sew. This will help you choose between a stretchy fabric, a lightweight one or a material that holds its shape better.
| What are you making? | Which fabrics are a good starting point? |
|---|---|
| T-shirt or lightweight clothing | Single Jersey |
| Sweatshirt or joggers | French Terry |
| Bedding | Percale or cotton sateen |
| Bag or apron | Twill or Panama weave fabric |
| Toiletry bag and accessories | Panama weave fabric or faux leather, depending on construction |
These suggestions are a starting point. The design, lining and interfacing also affect your choice.
What should you check before ordering?
Stretch. Knitted fabrics, such as Single Jersey and French Terry, generally offer more stretch and move with the body. Woven fabrics, such as percale or twill, are usually more stable. The exact properties depend on the particular fabric.
Composition and fabric weight. Fabric weight is the mass of one square metre of fabric, expressed in g/m². A higher value does not automatically mean better quality or greater thickness. Composition alone is not enough either: cotton jersey behaves differently from cotton percale.
Print width and care instructions. Check these on the selected fabric’s product page before planning your cutting layout and ordering your print.
How will the print look?
The same design can look different on a smooth surface and a noticeably textured one. If colour, pattern size or fine detail matters, check it on the fabric you intend to use.
Compare Printella’s fabrics and, before placing a larger order, find out how to order a fabric sample.
